Publication

This paper examines the EU’s counterterrorism responses to the Paris attacks of November 13, 2015. It specifically argues that Brussels (along with Europol and Eurojust) needs to rethink its current information-sharing and preventive justice models and how they’re impacting the use of existing counterterrorism tools. However, while distinguishing what has worked and what has not, the authors of this polemic insist that whatever adjustments are made to the counterterrorism policies of the EU and individual nations, they must not undermine the democratic rule of law, fundamental rights, or the EU’s founding constitutional principles, such as the free movement of persons within the Schengen system. Otherwise, the authors opine, the updated policies will defeat their purpose by generating more insecurity, instability, mistrust and legal uncertainty for all.